Declan Rice has made a strong case for being Arsenal 's standout player this season.
The England midfielder has been ever-present in midfield, and he is one of the main reasons why Mikel Arteta's side are top of both the Premier League and the Champions League.
Should Arsenal triumph in both of those competitions, Rice's candidacy for the Ballon d'Or is certainly a topic that would warrant discussion.
Despite this, Paul Scholes remains unwilling to concede that the midfielder currently stands as the Premier League's best.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
If you asked any Arsenal fan to name their side's top player, most would likely pick Rice. His work in the middle of the pitch has been outstanding, and he has contributed at both ends.
Scholes has often questioned Rice in the past, and while performances have shown otherwise, he still is not ready to heap praise on him.
Speaking on The Overlap, Scholes said he would not call Rice the best player in the league and even went as far as to say that Timber has been more impressive this season.
"Has Declan Rice been that special this year?" he questioned.
"I really like him, but I'm struggling to see that he is the best player in the league at this point. I think your defenders have probably had a bigger influence than Declan Rice.
"I like him, but I'm just saying I don't think he is the best player in the Premier League this year.
"I just think your defenders have had a bigger influence, the likes of Timber. I think Timber has been unbelievable. I think he has been brilliant."
While a lot of Arsenal fans would probably name Declan Rice as their standout player, it is far from a straightforward call.
Timber, for instance, has been steady all year and deserves to be in the conversation. Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have also impressed despite dealing with injuries.
Leandro Trossard has had another good campaign and David Raya has brought stability between the posts. Meanwhile, summer signing Martin Zubimendi has quietly played a key role in midfield.
The decision is not clear-cut, and as the season winds down, someone may still put themselves clearly ahead.
